Leon Moore Nature Experience – Sun Parakeet Birding Tour Guyana is a small English-speaking country located on the Atlantic Coast of South America, east of Venezuela and west of Suriname. Deserving of its reputation as one of the top birding and wildlife destinations in South America, Guyana’s pristine habitats stretch from the protected shell beach and mangrove forest along the northern coast, across the vast untouched rainforest of the interior, to the wide open savannah of the Rupununi in the south. Guyana hosts more than 850 different species of birds covering over 70 families. Perhaps the biggest attraction is the 45+ Guianan Shield endemic species that are more easily seen here than any other country in South America. These sought-after near-endemic species include everything from the ridiculous to the sublime - from the outrageous Capuchinbird with a bizarre voice unlike any other avian species to the unbelievably stunning Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock. While the majestic Harpy Eagle is on everyone’s “must-see” list, other species are not to be overlooked, such as Rufous-throated, White-plumed and Wing-barred Antbirds, Gray-winged Trumpeter, Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo, Blood-colored Woodpecker, Rufous Crab-Hawk, Guianan Red-Cotinga, White-winged Potoo, Black Curassow, Sun Parakeet, Red Siskin, Rio-Branco Antbird, and the Dusky Purpletuft. These are just a few of the many spectacular birding highlights that can be seen in this amazing country. Not only is Guyana a remarkable birding destination, but it also offers tourists the opportunity to observe many other unique fauna. The elusive Jaguar can sometimes be seen along trails and roadways. Several species of monkeys including Red Howler, Black Spider, Wedge-capped Capuchin, Brown Capuchin, Golden- handed Tamarin, Brown-bearded Saki and Squirrel Monkey are frequently seen in their natural habitats. As if that isn’t enough, you are nearly certain to see Capybara, Black Caiman (the largest member of the alligator family), Sloths, and Giant Otters. Other animals that are either less common or more elusive and therefore less likely but still possible to find are Tapir, Anaconda, Puma, and Giant Anteater. The largest fresh-water scaled fish in the world, the Arapaima, can be observed, along with an amazing diversity of reptiles and amphibians that will enhance your birding adventure. THE TOUR AT A GLANCE Day 1 Arrive in Georgetown Day 2 Georgetown and Surrounding Day 3 Georgetown to Iwokrama River Lodge Day 4 Iwokrama and Surround Day 5 Iwokrama to Atta Rainforest Lodge Day 6 Atta Rainforest Lodge and Surrounding Day 7 Atta Rainforest Lodge to Surama Lodge Day 8 Surama Lodge and Surrounding Day 9 Surama Lodge to Caiman house Day 10 Caiman House and Surrounding Day 11 Caiman House to Karasabai and Manari Ranch Day 12 Red Siskin Adventure and Lunch at Dadanawa Day 13 Manari Ranch Surrounding & Schedule flight to Georgetown Day 14 Final Departure Day 1, Arrive in Guyana: Our tour will begin from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. Since the tour is starting today, if you can plan your flight to land in Guyana the evening before so as to take advantage of day one early, that would be great. If for some reason you can’t arrive a day early then you can arrive early on the morning of day one and the afternoon will be used to visit the Georgetown Botanical Gardens as this would be a great introduction to the birds of Guyana. Please advise if you intend arriving the previous day. After arriving in the vibrant city of Georgetown we will transfer to our air condition and comfortable hotel. Georgetown is located in the north of Guyana on the Atlantic coast, and about a one-third of the Country’s population lives in this (Blood-colored Woodpecker) English speaking metropolis. The Georgetown Botanical Garden is a wonderful spot, despite their location in central Georgetown there are exclusive grounds of large tropical trees, lawns and wetland provided for some exciting birding. Some of the species we are likely to see includes Great Black-Hawk, Common Black-Hawk, Zone-tailed Hawk, Snail Kite, Green-rumped Parrotlet, Great Horned Owl, Orange-winged and, Yellow-crowned Amazons in very good numbers and Festive Parrot. White- bellied Piculet, Wing-barred Seedeater, Wattle Jacana, White-throated Toucan, Pied Water- Tyrant, Red-Shoulder Macaw, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Grayish Salator and a number of other amazing birds. Overnight in Georgetown (L,D) Day 2, Georgetown and Surroundings: This morning we will leave our hotel at 5:00am and head eastward along the Atlantic coast to the Mahaica River, this is where you will have your only chance on this tour of seeing and photographing Guyana’s national bird, the “Hoatzin”. This pre-historic bird is found in abundance along this river system along with many other species including Yellow- chinned Spinetail, Barred Antshrike, Black- crested Antshrike, Little Cuckoo and Striped Cuckoo, Green, Amazon, American pygmy and Ringed Kingfisher, Striated Heron, Black-collared (Hoatzin) Hawk, Black Hawk-Eagle and many other amazing birds. This area is also one of the best places to see and photograph the Guianan Red Howler Monkey so we will fancy our chances at capturing some great images of the stunning animal. The entire morning will be spent on the coast. After our time on the Mahaica river, on the way back to Georgetown we will stop at some mangrove forest at Victoria village seawall for a chance to see and photograph another of our target for the day, the Rufous Crab-Hawk! With reasonable luck, we hope to get some stunning pictures of this Guianan shield endemic species. Our journey will continue to Georgetown for a late lunch. Later in the afternoon, we can revisit the Georgetown Botanical Garden to try and see if we can get pictures of the outrageous Toco Toucan or perhaps White-throated Toucan, Black-necked Aracari, Pied water-tyrant, Great-Horned Owl, Lineated and Crimson-crested Woodpecker. Not forgetting, this is a great place for several of the amazon parrots including the amazing Festive, Yellow-crowned, Orange-winged and the Mealy Parrot. We may also have lots of Red-shoulder Macaws to photograph as well. Overnight at Grand Coastal Hotel (B ,L,D) Day 3, Georgetown to Iwokrama River: After an early breakfast at our hotel, we will transfer to nearby Ogle Airport where we will catch a flight (by small aircraft) to the Amerindian village of Fairview. From here we will take a 10-minute transfer to Iwokrama River Lodge. The Iwokrama Rainforest, a vast wilderness of one million acres, is a protected area that was established in 1996 as the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development. The Iwokrama Forest is in the heart of one of four last untouched tropical forests of the world – The Guiana Shield of North-Eastern South America. Iwokrama was established as a living laboratory for tropical forest management because the unsustainable utilization of these forests will result in the extinction of half the world’s plant and animal species and unknown changes to global climate. This is a protected area (Black-headed Parrots) with a difference – the full involvement of people. Iwokrama is exceptional among conservation organizations because it joins with local people in every aspect of its work. From research to business, Iwokrama ensures local economic and social benefits from forest use and conservation. The Forest is in the homeland of the Makushi people, who have lived here and used the forest for thousands of years. People are a vital part of the ecosystem, and the success of Iwokrama relies on the ownership of local people and the combined skills of specialists and communities. Iwokrama does what so many International conventions have acknowledged as best practice. It has begun conservation locally and integrated conservation into national development. Upon our arrival at the river lodge, we will receive a welcome by the staff and then settle in to our rooms. The afternoon will be used to venture into the forest for an interpretive walk looking at the different trees, flowers and orchids. There is a Capuchinbird lek along one of the trails which we will be visiting, and you may also have chances to see several species of monkeys, including Red Howler, Black Spider, and Guianan Saki Monkey. We will return to the lodge at sunset. After dinner, we will venture out on the Essequibo River by boat in the dark with an expert boat captain looking for night animals including Tree Boas, Black Caiman, Ladder-tailed Nightjars, and, if the water is low enough, along the sandbanks you may have the chance to see some freshwater stingrays. Overnight at Iwokrama River Lodge (B,L,D) Day 4, Iwokrama River Lodge and Environs: We will start the day very early after breakfast. A trip to Iwokrama is not complete without a hike to the top of Turtle Mountain. We will take a boat journey downriver approximately 30 minutes and then enjoy a slow walk of about 1.5 hours up the forested trail to the summit (950 ft) for a stunning jungle vista punctuated by the powerful Essequibo River snaking through the forest. Numerous bird species can be spotted on the lower section of the trail including the Red-and-Black Grosbeak, Yellow- billed Jacamar, Brown-bellied Antwren, Ferruginous-backed Antbird, Guianan-Red Cotinga, Great Jacamar, Pygmy Antwren, Guianan Tyrannulet, Guianan Toucanet, Guianan Puffbird, Screaming Piha, Rufous-bellied Antwren, Collared Puffbird and many other birds. We will make an extra effort to reach the top as it provides spectacular views of pristine rainforest along with many birds including one of our main targets for the day, the rare (Orange-breasted Falcon) Orange-breasted Falcon! On previous trips our clients had amazing views of a pair of Rufous-winged ground Cuckoo at the top of the mountain.